CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new hotel and sailing school at a popular west Wirral seaside resort are expected to be put on hold this week.

The Sail project in West Kirby included plans for a revamped sailing school and a new hotel overlooking the marine lake.

Last year the Daily Post revealed that plans for the hotel had been drastically scaled back and the initial proposals for an underground car park had been abandoned.

Although developers Carpenters were given extra time to redesign the scheme some members of the cabinet were critical of the new look when it was revealed last month, describing it as “not iconic enough”.

The cabinet extended its lock-out agreement with the developers until this Thursday while consultants examined the financial details of the scheme.

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This is to be presented in a confidential report to Wirral Council’s cabinet and is understood to recommend the Sail Project in West Kirby be put off for 18 months.

Last night cabinet member for regeneration Jean Stapleton said no decision had yet been made.

She said the council’s ruling cabinet has yet to vote on the recommendations and to comment “would be pre-empting that decision”.

Conservative councillor John Hale said he had opposed the scheme since it was first revealed and remains critical of the project.

He said: “I’m not opposed to a new sailing school, but not if the only way to have it is a hotel at that location.”

He added: “I’m hoping they will kick this into the long grass for a while.”

Alan Beer, of Carpenter Investments, said he had not been privy to the contents of the exempt report.

He said: “I’m not in a position to comment. All we want to do is what we said at the outset we would do – we have a scheme which is fundable and will create a new sailing school at no expense to the council tax payer and I hope they will be sufficiently courageous to keep it going.”